An insulin signaling feedback loop regulates pancreas progenitor cell differentiation during islet development and regeneration.

ABSTRACT: As one of the key nutrient sensors, insulin signaling plays an important role in integrating environmental energy cues with organism growth. In adult organisms, relative insufficiency of insulin signaling induces compensatory expansion of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta (β) cells. However, little is known about how insulin signaling feedback might influence neogenesis of β cells during embryonic development. Using genetic approaches and a unique cell transplantation system in developing zebrafish, we have uncovered a novel role for insulin signaling in the negative regulation of pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation. Blocking insulin signaling in the pancreatic progenitors hastened the expression of the essential β cell genes insulin and pdx1, and promoted β cell fate at the expense

SUBMITTER: Ye L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4950988 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature